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Broncos Defeat Patriots 20-17 in Overtime

The Patriots led the whole way against the Broncos today but the defense simply couldn’t stop the mighty Kyle Orton and the Broncos were able to come from 10 points down to beat the Patriots, 20-17 in overtime.

A 41-yard game-winning field goal by Matt Prater on the first possession in overtime only put an exclamation point on a game that left a lot of questions to be answered for the Patriots secondary and play calling. Orton was 35-48 for 330 yards, two TDs and one INT. After engineering a game-tying 12 play, 98 yard drive in the fourth quarter, Orton took the Broncos right down the field with ease after they won the coin toss. The loss drops the Patriots to 3-2 and puts the Broncos at an impressive 5-0.

Usually a near guarantee to get the job done in the fourth quarter, Tom Brady was downright pedestrian in the final quarter. The Pats had three drives in the fourth and never got a chance to score. The first drive went 40 yards in 13 plays thanks to two fourth down penalties by the Broncos. The second wasn’t much better, a three and out. The third – and what turned out to be their final drive – Brady did not feel the pressure in the pocket and was strip sacked to end any threat of a go-ahead field goal. Brady finished with respectable numbers (19-33, 215 yards, 2 TDs 0 Int) but missed at least two sure fire touchdown passes where receivers were open.

Three Quick Thoughts:

1. The Patriots were way too conservative in play calling in the second half. On the aforementioned 13 play, 40 yard drive in the fourth, the Patriots ran six consecutive running plays. Both times the team would have gone three and out if not for the fourth down penalties. Brady was 1-4 for four yards in the fourth quarter. Unacceptable.
2. Matt Light better not be seriously hurt or we’ll be seeing a lot more of the running game. Light was obviously shaken up in the second half when a teammate rolled on his leg. He came off under his own power but needed help getting to the locker room. Rookie Sebastian Volmer filled in and had no noticeable lapses, but you can’t count on a rookie to effectively protect your franchise quarterback’s blind side for an entire game without risking injury/sacks.
3. I like Josh McDaniels. I hate to see the Patriots lose, but the way McDaniels scowled at his special teams coordinator after the two inexcusable fourth quarter penalties it really reminded me of Belichick. Yes, perhaps his post-game fist pumps in front of the crowd were a little much, but you got to give the guy some credit. Not many people were happy with his decisions when he took over but it seems like he knows what he’s doing.

Tags: Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Sebastian Volmer, Tom Brady